RSS Feedhttps://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{B499EC83-FC34-4F7D-931B-FAEA7616ECB7}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/07/dangers-of-the-sunburn-art/Dangers of Sunburn Art<p>First it was the cinnamon challenge, then Kylie Jenner lips, and now the latest photo trend on social media channels is sunburn art. What is <a href="http://time.com/3944708/sunburn-art/" target="_blank">sunburn art</a>, you ask? The idea is to create intricate designs on the body (similar to a tattoo) with sunscreen template cutouts, and then venturing out in the sun for an intense sunburn. </p>
<p>Dr. Marc Sanders, dermatologist at the Intermountain Memorial Clinic, urges people to consider the seriousness of sunburns, and to demonstrate their artistic and creative talent in a way that won&rsquo;t cause skin cancer. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;People must realize how risky this kind of sun exposure is,&rdquo; Dr. Sanders said.&nbsp;&ldquo;The risk for melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, doubles in people who have had more than five sunburns, particularly when they are younger.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Intermittent, intense sun exposure causing burns is particularly risky for melanoma, but may increase the risk of other skin cancers also. <a href="http://fox13now.com/2015/07/02/dangerous-new-summer-trend-increasing-chances-of-cancer-by-50-percent/">Some experts indicate</a> these intense sun exposure activities can increases chances of melanoma by 50 percent. Skin cancer rates are increasing dramatically because of increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation and these trends are not bending the curve.</p>
<p style="line-height: 13.5pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">If you think you might have signs of melanoma start with checking out a mole or other mark on your skin. Your health care provider will examine your skin with the ABCDE rules in mind. This means looking at:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>A</strong>symmetry. One half of the mole does not match the other half.</li>
<li><strong>B</strong>order irregularity. The edges of the mole are ragged or irregular.</li>
<li><strong>C</strong>olor. The mole has different colors in it. It may be tan, brown, black, red, or other colors. Or it may have areas that appear to have lost color.</li>
<li><strong>D</strong>iameter. The mole is bigger than 6 millimeters across, about the size of a pencil eraser. But some melanomas can be smaller.</li>
<li><strong>E</strong>volving. A mole changes in size, shape, or color.</li>
</ul>
<p>Your health care provider will ask you about the mole. Tell him or her:</p>
<ul>
<li>When you first noticed it</li>
<li>If it hurts or itches</li>
<li>If it oozes fluid or bleeds, or gets crusty</li>
<li>If it&rsquo;s changed in size, color, or shape</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>Tue, 07 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{0DDA7195-EDBA-45B4-9F6A-7C77F08E5DB9}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/07/the-dangers-of-hot-cars/The Danger of Hot CarsAs temperatures climb we need to be aware that temperatures can reach over 130 degrees on an 82 degree day in just a few minutes. As you can see in the video below, the temperature in a parked car can increase one degree per minute. This is dangerous to children left in a car. <br />
<p>
A sad trend is that in the last 10 years over 700 children have died of heat stroke while being left unattended in hot cars or getting into cars on their own.
</p>
<p>Leaving your car idling with air conditioning on or windows cracked is not effective at cooling your car&rsquo;s interior. &nbsp;A young child&rsquo;s body is not able to regulate its internal temperature like adults do. This causes a child&rsquo;s body temperature to rise 3 to 5 times faster than an adult, making them more vulnerable to heat stroke. </p>
<p>This video demonstrates how quickly the temperature can increase in a parked car during the heat of the summer. In the matter of minutes a parked car reaches 126 degrees and objects like crayons, cookies, chapstick, and pizza are melted. </p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: medium none;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uctfULGLza0"></iframe></div>
<p>A few quick tips to prevent tragedy:</p>
<ul>
<li>Keep cars locked and keys out of reach.</li>
<li>Teach kids that cars are not toys; do not allow them to play in your car.</li>
<li>Create reminders on your phone to drop children off at daycare providers.</li>
<li>Keep something valuable like a your left shoe, a cell phone or a &nbsp;purse by baby&rsquo;s car seat, so you will be more likely to remember to look in the back seat. Check out these links for more tips.</li>
</ul>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><a href="http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/07/04/left-shoe-trick">http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/07/04/left-shoe-trick</a> </p>
<p style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/shoe-trick-could-prevent-child-hot-car-deaths_n_5584372.html"><strong>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/shoe-trick-could-prevent-child-hot-car-deaths_n_5584372.html</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Get in the habit of looking in the back seat, make sure everyone is out and valuables stored out of sight&hellip;&rdquo; <strong>LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK!!&rdquo;</strong></li>
<li>Encourage people to ask about your children if they are not with you. Ask daycare providers to call you if your child is not dropped off by a certain time.</li>
<li>If you use a car seat cover that attaches to an infant car seat handle make sure you remove it for summer, you will be able to see your child more easily. </li>
</ul>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://primarychildrenshospitalblog.org/2015/06/30/an-unsuspecting-but-deadly-mistake/">Primary Children's Hospital</a> has a FAQ blog post about heatstroke in children and other heat related questions parent have. </p>
<ul>
</ul>
<p><strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>What should you do if you see a child alone in a hot car? </strong></p>
<p>Look at your surroundings to see if the child&rsquo;s parents are nearby, if not call 911 and follow their instructions.</p>
<p><strong>From the Car Seat Team at McKay-Dee Hospital Call 801-387-7800 for a free car seat check.</strong></p>Thu, 02 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{36D526D7-9CB9-492F-B614-145F65D5F2AB}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/07/why-you-should-kick-trans-fats-to-the-curb/Why You Should Kick Trans Fats to the CurbThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just announced that food manufacturers must eliminate all trans fats from the food supply by 2018. Trans fats were taken off of the &ldquo;Generally Recognized As Safe&rdquo; list in 2013, but now the FDA considers them a public health threat. While this is great news, many people are scratching their heads wondering what this means for them and for the food supply.<br />
<br />
<strong>What are trans fats?</strong><br />
Trans fats are predominantly man-made fats. On a molecular level, hydrogen is added to a fat to make it more solid&mdash;that&rsquo;s why these types of fats are called &ldquo;partially hydrogenated oils.&rdquo; Solid fats (saturated fats and trans fats) can be heated to higher temperatures, which is why many fried foods are cooked in partially hydrogenated oils. Trans fats increase mouth feel &ndash; creating that &ldquo;melt in your mouth&rdquo; sensation and they also have a longer shelf life than other types of fats so are ideal for processed goods.<br />
<br />
<strong>Why are trans fats bad for you?</strong><br />
While trans fats may have many functional benefits, they are detrimental to everyone&rsquo;s health. An increased intake of trans fats increases your risk of infertility (intake of 4 grams or more per day doubles your risk), decreases your HDL (good) cholesterol, increases your LDL (bad) cholesterol, and may decrease memory function. The American Heart Association recommends eating as few as possible and no &ldquo;safe&rdquo; level of consumption has been established.<br />
<br />
<strong>What types of foods have trans fats?</strong><br />
Trans fats will be found in stick margarines, pastries, refrigerated dough, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, sweet snacks, cake and muffin mixes, frosting, cookies, and more. <br />
<br />
<strong>How do I know if a food has trans fats?</strong><br />
Start looking at your food label! The first place to look is at &ldquo;Trans Fat&rdquo; which is a subcategory of &ldquo;Total Fat&rdquo; near the top of the food label. However, you can&rsquo;t stop there. Current legislation allows for manufacturers to put &ldquo;0 g&rdquo; if there is less than 0.5 grams per serving. Your next step is to head down to the ingredients list and look for &ldquo;partially hydrogenated oils.&rdquo;<br />
<br />
<strong>What does this decision mean for food?</strong><br />
In most instances, tropical oils will replace hydrogenated oils. You will likely not taste a difference, but will start seeing more coconut and palm kernel oil listed as ingredients. These oils are solid at room temperature and mostly saturated fat, so still need to be consumed in moderate quantities. Additionally, because these are tropical oils, increased manufacturing may impact our world&rsquo;s rain forests.Thu, 02 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{AC422490-A8DD-43D5-B162-6516AEDACEC0}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/07/simple-maintenance-for-a-healthier-summer-garden/Simple Maintenance for a Healthier Summer Garden<p>Here are a couple garden tips as we move into the middle of summer:</p>
<h3>Protect your squash plants</h3>
<p>Squash plants should be starting to produce wonderful tender fruit. To keep them healthy and producing well it will be necessary to keep the squash bugs away as best as possible. This can be done by looking at the base of the plant and under the leaves often to remove and dispose the bugs and their eggs.</p>
<h3>What to do with sunscald and blossom end rot</h3>
<p>Some plants, such as peppers and tomatoes, can get sunscald and blossom end rot on the fruit. This causes blemishes that are unsightly. Both of these look somewhat similar, with leathery misshaped fruit. If picked early enough the fruit can typically still be eaten if you cut out the bad areas and discard it. If left too long the fruit can get bacteria that you would not want to eat, thereby destroying the whole fruit.</p>
<p>I make it a habit to remove the affected fruit early, eat what I can and allow the plants to spend their energy creating more fruit to eat that is usually of better quality.</p>
<p>Have fun with your garden and look forward to eating fresh, tasty, and nutritious vegetables!</p>
Wed, 01 Jul 2015 00:00:00 -0600{ACF3C32A-15E6-4695-B05A-8B0CA6BA9AE0}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/3-most-dangerous-home-fireworks/3 of the Most Dangerous Home Fireworks<p>There are some fireworks you should avoid, particularly if you have small children. According to the <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/1/296.abstract" target="_blank">American Association of Pediatrics</a>&nbsp; <strong>the 3 most dangerous fireworks (those that injure the most children each year) are:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Firecrackers (29%)</li>
<li>Sparklers/novelty devices (20.5%)</li>
<li>Aerial devices, such as bottle rockets (17.5%)</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Many of these injuries are serious, and -- you guessed it -- most are burns. The top 3 most injured body parts are:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Eyes</li>
<li>Face</li>
<li>Hands</li>
</ol>
<p>Avoiding the most dangerous fireworks and using some simple common-sense guidelines can help you enjoy the celebration injury free. Here are some guidelines, courtesy of <a href="http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=5&amp;dn=PrimaryChildrensHospital&amp;article_set=29175&amp;cat_id=152" target="_blank">Primary Children&rsquo;s Hospital KidsHealth</a> website<strong>. <br />
</strong></p>
<ol>
</ol>
<strong>Leave the fireworks to professionals. </strong>Many communities have beautiful fireworks displays you can enjoy from a safe distance.
<ol>
</ol>
<strong>If you do have home fireworks, follow these safety guidelines:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Kids should never play with fireworks. Adults should supervise and light all fireworks.</li>
<li>Do not give children sparklers. Sparklers can reach 1800 degrees Fahrenheit &ndash; hot enough to melt gold. </li>
<li>Buy only legal fireworks and store them in a cool, dry place. </li>
<li>Never try to make your own fireworks.</li>
<li>Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.</li>
<li>Steer clear of others --- fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone &ndash; even in jest.</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t hold fireworks in your hand while lighting. </li>
<li>Point fireworks away from homes, brush, leaves and flammable substances. (Local fire departments respond to more than 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.)</li>
<li>Light one firework at a time, and never relight a dud.</li>
<li>Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.</li>
<li>Remember small children may become frightened by loud noises. It&rsquo;s best to keep them indoors during fireworks displays.</li>
<li>Think about your pets. Animals have sensitive ears and are easily spooked by fireworks. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk they will get injured.</li>
</ul>
<strong>If the unthinkable happens &ndash; your child is injured by fireworks &ndash; here are some suggestions:</strong>
<ul>
<li>Go immediately to a doctor or hospital. </li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t flush an injured eye with water or attempt to put ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, put it around the eye and seek immediate medical attention &ndash; your child&rsquo;s eyesight may depend on it. </li>
<li>If the injury is a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn. Call your doctor immediately. </li>
</ul>
<p>The 4<sup>th</sup> of July should be a fun celebration for the whole family. These simple guidelines will help keep it safe as well as fun.</p>
<p><strong>Other resources:</strong></p>
<p>U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission </p>
<p><a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/">http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/</a></p>
<p>Safe Kids Worldwide</p>
<p><a href="http://www.safekids.org/tip/fireworks-safety-tips?gclid=CLbq7v2rpMYCFZSGfgodAoYAvQ">http://www.safekids.org/tip/fireworks-safety-tips?gclid=CLbq7v2rpMYCFZSGfgodAoYAvQ</a></p>Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{8CAC42A7-AF64-4609-AEA2-2A02AD621714}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/does-vitamin-b12-cause-acne/Does Vitamin B12 Cause Acne?<p>Usually, the worst of acne goes away on its own, or can be treated with simple medications. But in some cases, it can cause scarring, and it&rsquo;s undeniably the cause of self-esteem problems. </p>
<p>There are <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/medicalgroup/clinics/physicianclinics/saltlakeclinic/services/Pages/dermatology.aspx" target="_blank">three main forms of acne</a> &ndash; comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads), inflammatory acne (a blackhead or whitehead that becomes inflamed and red), and cystic acne (actual infection in the outbreak area). We know a lot about what causes acne, but don&rsquo;t fully understand all the mechanisms behind it. Here are a few things that play a role: </p>
<ul>
<li>The bacteria on facial skin </li>
<li>Sebum, a wax-like substance produced on the skin</li>
<li>Changes in the cells that surround hair follicles </li>
<li>Inflammation of facial skin</li>
<li>Hormonal influences</li>
</ul>
<p>For many years, doctors have said that there isn&rsquo;t a link between diet and acne.&nbsp; Recently, however, there has been increasing evidence that certain foods or supplements can lead to increased acne. This has become a hot topic in the scientific literature over the last decade with multiple studies looking for associations. There is good evidence that eating a low glycemic index diet (or eating foods low in sugar or processed carbohydrates) can improve acne. Other studies are looking at how skim milk consumption may be associated with worsening acne in some individuals. Other foods and supplements are being investigated as well, including the effect of vitamin B12 on acne. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>A recent study co-authored by Hyiying Li at UCLA found a link between vitamin B12 and acne. Dr. Li and her team found that taking vitamin B12 increases the amount of that vitamin on facial skin. This, in turn, causes a certain facial bacteria (propionibacterium acnes) to produce more of something called porphyrins, which results in inflammation. And this could lead to acne. </p>
<p>It&rsquo;s important to remember that these findings are very preliminary, and the sample sizes in the study were small. The study is very interesting, but for now, consult your dermatologist to combat acne problems. Normal treatment for acne includes keeping the skin clean, applying topical creams, or taking antibiotics to kill bacteria that cause inflammation around pores.&nbsp; </p>Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{4D15BE5B-20BE-432B-BB7E-108DE8D80864}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/new-screening-program-utilizing-ct-scans-improves-lung-cancer-detection/New Screening Program Utilizing CT Scans Improves Lung Cancer Detection<p class="p1">The program is based on the findings of the&nbsp;National Lung Screening Trial, a study that compared&nbsp;CT scans and standard chest X-rays in detecting lung cancer. CT scans use X-rays to obtain a multiple-image scan of the entire chest, while a standard chest X-ray produces a single image of the whole chest.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">Results from the study showed that patients who received CT scans had 15 to 20 percent lower risks of dying compared to those who received a standard X-ray.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Taking results of a research study and applying them to the real world is extremely hard to do,&rdquo; said Denitza Blagev, MD, a pulmonologist at Intermountain Medical Center, and one of the program leads. &ldquo;But the Lung Cancer Screening Program at Intermountain Medical Center is a direct result of that effort, and because of the best practices that came from this research,&nbsp;we were able to diagnose&nbsp;three people with early stage lung cancer in the program&rsquo;s first 18 months.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="p1">Dr. Blagev and her colleagues recently presented their findings at the <a href="http://www.thoracic.org/" target="_blank">American Thoracic Society</a> International Conference in Denver.</p>
<p class="p1">The program Intermountain developed was tested between September 2014 and March 2015 and initially gave CT scans to 375 patients, 272 of whom were eligible to continue in the program. Of the 272 who were eligible, 19 of their scans found evidence of malignant cancer. From those 19, 11 were confirmed malignant. Eight of the 11 were confirmed to have lung cancer, and three of the cases were considered early stage lung cancer.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Our goal is to save every life that we can. Our results are comparable&nbsp;to the&nbsp;National Lung Screening Trial, in which it was deemed a success if they prevented just one cancer death for every 320 patients screened. The program we created from this study detected three early stage lung cancers in the fi 357 patients screened, which is incredible. &ldquo;</p>
<p class="p1">Patients enrolled in the program were considered high risk for lung cancer. They all had a smoking history of at least 30-pack years, which is the equivalent of smoking one pack of cigarettes every day for 30 years, and were current or former smokers without any signs or symptoms of lung disease.</p>
<p class="p1">&ldquo;Results from the National Lung Screening Trial and from our program have shown that screenings are very effective and will greatly benefit our patients going forward,&rdquo; said Dr. Blagev. &ldquo;These results will also help our patients financially as well. As of February of this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a statement about how they will cover the cost of screenings for lung cancer.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="p1">According to Dr. Blagev, the implementation of lung cancer screenings has been challenging because of the costs and uncertainty whether the same benefits will be seen outside a research setting. But with the recent&nbsp;announcement&nbsp;from CMS regarding coverage and the results of these studies, lung cancer screening is becoming more broadly available.&nbsp;</p>Mon, 29 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{E523ADEF-7D98-4BF0-8068-9D37BA7F4803}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/heart-healthy-recipe-bulgar-chickpea-salad/Heart-healthy Recipe: Bulgar Chickpea Salad<p><strong>INGREDIENTS</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1 1/4 cup water</li>
<li>1 cup coarse bulgar</li>
<li>1 tsp dried parsley</li>
<li>1 tsp minced onion</li>
<li>1 tsp soy sauce</li>
<li>1/2 cup chopped green onions</li>
<li>1/2 cup raisins (I also use currants)</li>
<li>1/2 cup chopped carrots</li>
<li>3/4 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed</li>
</ul>
<p>Dressing</p>
<ul>
<li>2 tbsp olive oil</li>
<li>2 tbsp lemon juice</li>
<li>1 tbsp soy sauce</li>
<li>1 garlic clove, minced</li>
<li>Black pepper, to taste</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>DIRECTIONS</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>In a medium saucepan, bring water to boil. Stir in bulgar, parsley, minced onion and soy sauce; Reduce to low and cover. Simmer 15-20 minutes (until all water is absorbed and bulgar is not too crunchy). Do not overcook.</li>
<li>Remove from heat and allow to cool; fluff with a fork.</li>
<li>Combine dressing ingredients; stir well.</li>
<li>Pour bulgar mixture into a large bowl. Pour dressing over bulgar and mix well.</li>
<li>Stir in green onions, raisins/currants, carrots &amp; chickpeas. Cover and chill several hours.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>Recipe credit: choosemyplate.gov</em></p>
<p>Below is a video I did during our inaugural year of the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute's My Heart Challenge showing how to whip up this recipe. Good luck.&nbsp;</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7EF_XlzbWd0" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Sat, 27 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{B43EA47F-43B3-4AC4-953D-1C2049AB06D1}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/4-exercises-to-help-you-be-a-better-swimmer/4 Exercises to Help You be a Better SwimmerIf your muscles are not properly conditioned or a joint is unstable, micro-trauma and injuries can occur quickly.&nbsp; By strength training and conditioning the body, you can swim injury-free and increase speed and efficiency!<br />
<p>I recently teamed up with Jamie Riccobono, one of the 15 Utah moms competing in the <strong>Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute's My Heart Challenge: Moms Edition</strong>, to demonstrate some of these exercises on Fox 13. You can watch the video below for a demonstration.</p>
<p><strong>Y-T-W-L:</strong> This exercise helps with upper-core stability.&nbsp; Run through this routine morning and night to correct bad posture and strengthen scapula retraction.&nbsp; Scapula Retraction is the action of pulling your shoulder blades together towards your spine.&nbsp; Standing tall, move your arms into each of the Y-T-W-L positions.&nbsp; Hold each pose at least 10 seconds.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Plank with the BOSU:</strong> Plank is one of the most efficient abdominal exercises you can do.&nbsp; This strengthens all core muscles when done correctly.&nbsp; Start by lying face down in the push-up position.&nbsp; Place hands on the edges of the BOSU, while keeping knees on the floor. Take a deep breath and push up into a pushup.&nbsp; Your body should make a straight line from the top of your head to your knees.&nbsp; Pull your belly button in to your spine and hold for 30 seconds.&nbsp; As you progress, you can increase the length of time, and move from your knees to toes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Push-ups with the BOSU: </strong>Start from the same position as above.&nbsp; Once you push into that push-up position, hold for 2 seconds and slowly lower your chest back down to the BOSU while breathing in.&nbsp; Repeat 10 &ndash; 12 times.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Russian Twist with BOSU: </strong>Grab a dumbbell or weight plate and sit halfway between the top of the BOSU and the floor.&nbsp; Keep hips and knees bent to 90 degrees.&nbsp; Holding the weight straight out in front of you, and keeping back straight (you should be about 45 degrees to the floor) twist your torso as far to the left as your can, then reverse the motion.&nbsp; That is one rep.&nbsp; Try to complete 8 &ndash; 12 repetitions.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><br />
</p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-fr_SomB-u0" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Fri, 26 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600{90955FF3-0083-4F68-AAEE-7ADE9EE4817B}https://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/06/would-you-recognize-the-signs-of-medical-identity-theft/Would You Recognize the Signs of Medical Identity Theft?<p>Thieves don&rsquo;t just want your credit card information, they are also highly motivated to steal medical records because they contain highly valuable information that can be used to commit identity theft or to receive and bill for treatment fraudulently. These crimes are often referred to collectively as Medical Identity theft and often catch victims unaware.</p>
<p>Most often medical identity theft occurs when an individual uses someone else&rsquo;s insurance card to receive care. But that&rsquo;s not the only way criminals use someone&rsquo;s health information. Criminals who steal this type of information usually do so to fraudulently bill payers, like Medicare, Medicaid, or other insurers. </p>
<p>Whether someone gets care with another&rsquo;s insurance or uses stolen information to bill for services, medical identity theft is a crime that can be very damaging to victims&rsquo; medical records and credit reports.<br />
<br />
</p>
<p>What are the signs of medical identity theft?<span>&nbsp; </span></p>
<ul>
<li>Receiving bills from providers you or your dependents have never seen.</li>
<li>Receiving a change of address confirmation from your insurer, when you haven&rsquo;t moved.</li>
<li>Odd entries in your medical record&mdash;blood tests you haven&rsquo;t had done or medications you&rsquo;ve never been prescribed.</li>
<li>Collection notices for bills you&rsquo;ve never incurred or received.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Proactively protect yourself by doing the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Safeguard your insurance cards. Treat them like credit cards. If you lose them, notify your insurer immediately.</li>
<li>Review all bills, notices, and Explanations of Benefits (EOB) you receive. These documents will usually list the name of the person who received services. If that isn&rsquo;t you or a dependent covered by your insurance, call your insurer.</li>
<li>Periodically review your dependent children&rsquo;s medical records. Thieves target children&rsquo;s identities because the theft or misuse often goes undetected for longer periods of time.</li>
<li>Never share your patient portal credentials with anyone.</li>
</ul>
<p > Just like you would with your personal financial information, you should take action to protect your medical identity by monitoring and reviewing all medical related correspondence you receive.</p>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 00:00:00 -0600